checkered past
noun
: a past history of having done bad things or been in trouble
The senator has a checkered past.
Examples of checkered past in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That checkered past gives Western Digital and its brands virtually zero wiggle room regarding consumer complaints.
—
Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 10 Aug. 2023
O’Brien acknowledges the Teamsters’ checkered past but bristles when the subject comes up.
—Nick Tabor, Washington Post, 19 June 2023
Their guru’s virile presence and checkered past preceded him in his days as a figure on the Sunset Strip.
—Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2023
Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 10 Aug. 2023
O’Brien acknowledges the Teamsters’ checkered past but bristles when the subject comes up.
—Nick Tabor, Washington Post, 19 June 2023
Their guru’s virile presence and checkered past preceded him in his days as a figure on the Sunset Strip.
—Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'checkered past.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near checkered past
Cite this Entry
“Checkered past.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checkered%20past. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share